Friday, October 29, 2010

Red Shed Sale Saturday Oct 30th 8am

Join Us Saturday for our annual Blanc & Noir Sale benefiting Breast Cancer Research.
We are filled to the Rafters with Gorgeous French Decor and LOTs of fabulous Gift for under $10!

Finally we have a Preview of A'la Grace Christmas....You're gonna LOVE it!
 
 Old vintage tinsel and german glass glitter...
Velveteen ribbon makes my heart go pitter,
Rich golden dresden on my angel's wings,
These are a few of my favorite things!!  Grace B.







Monday, October 25, 2010

Provence Antique Vintage Shopping Trip Day 6


 We woke up to beautiful blue skies and mild weather, Perfect for our visit to the beautiful fishing village of Cassis, perched directly over the azure Mediterranean Sea.  Another market was underway, but we dragged the girls away for a boat ride to visit the famous calanque cliffs of Cassis.
Kathy and Linda in their too cute hats...

Kelly, Nancy, Kathy & Joan, and revel in the majesty of the scenery featured in many a James Bond movie...
Michele has here eye on some other French scenery, the captain of the boat.....
 After the boat ride, Jill has arranged for us to have a soap making demonstration....



 I have never seen such beautiful and great smelling soaps.....
 After a lovely lunch by the sea...........
 We visit the Clos Sainte Madeleine Winery, perched on the mountain overlooking the sea...

 These are VERY happy grapes....and why wouldn't they be...
 With a view like this...................


Cheers to a perfect trip of a life time. After a delicious farewell dinner, tomorrow we return to the states, having tasted the beauty of France and all She has to offer.

A few treasures that will be available at our October 30th sale.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Provence Antique Shopping Tour Days 5

Day 5 our our Provencal adventure in Aix en Provence was a free day to explore the flea markets, wander the historical lanes, visit museums and determine if we needed to ship some packages back if we had bought too much (we did). We found our way back to the markets and my favorite purchase of the day was for this fabulous antique, beaded bridal crown (displayed by the vendor).
In the afternoon we were treated to a private tour of the Liquoristerie de Provence, which reintroduced the production and consumption of Absynthe and other regional apertifs to France.


The shop was just beautiful...

And the tour of the spotless distilling and maceration facility was just fascinating...Perfume is also made there...

Just for fun, and because she now knows us so well, our guide, Jill, invites one of her friends and pickers, Bernard, to bring his van full of French vintage baubles for sale, to the parking lot of the liqueristerie....mayhem ensued...as 12 American women descended upon him and his wares...

Several of the ladies picked up bread, olives and cheese from today's market and had hotel room picnics for dinner as we began our pre-packing and got ready for the treats of tomorrow..
A few of today's treasures that will be available to our customers at our sale on October 30th.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

France Vintage Flea Market Shopping Trip Day 3

Another day, another three flea markets to visit in Provence!

The first was a little known Vide Grenier or Garage Sale, that was held under this ancient bridge...
Would it be possible to find treasures amid the old clothes and broken toys?
But of course! Case in point, these wonder religious plaques with French writing on the back. Hundreds of years old, they were the vendor's grandmothers. I asked why she was selling them and she said "Oh she had SO MANY" Mind you, this conversation is completed with me speaking no French and her speaking no English.

Then onto another darling small village that was having a parking lot sale...Thank goodness for our guide, Jill, we would NEVER have found these on our own...


Our next stop was the Flea Market of L'Isle sur la Sorgue, one of the most beautiful cites and Provence. The city is surrounded by lovely waterways and greenery.

The streets are lined with darling shops and a flower and food market...


Michele is carrying bunches of Lavender that we are bringing home for our sale on Oct. 30th
Then there is the avenue with the vintage vendors....Here is my new favorite picture that depicts French Flea Markets....A wonderful crusty and chipped Christus statue next a used tennis racket...
Here are a few more things that caught our eye....





Then at the very end of the avenue, we found this wonderful store!!

Full of custom linens and authentic French decor, we were immediately enamored....


We ooo'd and aaah'd so much over all of their wares made mostly of vintage linens, that the owners took us back into their work room to show us that they were making most of the wonderful things that we loved (look at the bed that would soon be on display!)You can view their beautiful wares online at www.mp-deco.com
Our wonderful day came to an end with the only sprinkles that we experienced the entire trip. We still managed to get a quick photo with the group in one of the most beautiful cities in France!
A few treasures from today that will be available at our Oct 30th sale
Add caption